KPK Declares Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi a Bribery Suspect
September 18, 2019 | 11:31 pm
Jakarta. The national antigraft agency declared Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi a corruption suspect on Wednesday for allegedly receiving bribes from the National Sports Committee, or KONI.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also declared Imam's assistant, Miftahul Ulum, a suspect in the case, related to a grant the Ministry of Youth and Sports had given to KONI.
"The KPK has found strong evidence of [government officials] receiving gifts or promises [of one] related to the distribution of funds from a government grant to KONI in 2018 and in other [instances]. We have charged two [new] suspects in the current investigation," KPK commissioner Alexander Marwata said in Jakarta.
The charges against Imam and Miftahul are related to earlier arrests by the KPK of KONI secretary general Ending Fuad Hamidy, its treasurer Jhonny Awuy, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mulyana and two other government officials, Adhi Purnomo and Eko Triyono. Their cases are now on trial.
The KPK alleges that Imam and Miftahul had received more than Rp 14 billion ($1 million) from KONI in several instalments between 2014 and 2018.
"Aside from that, between 2016 and 2018, I.M.R. [Imam's initials] is suspected of having demanded bribes to the tune of Rp 11.8 billion. He allegedly received Rp 26.5 billion [eventually]," Alexander said.
Imam had asked for and received money for his personal use from KONI through Miftahul.
The two are facing maximum life sentences if proven guilty of violating the Anti-Corruption Law.
Imam had already ignored three KPK summonses to show up for questioning. His aide was questioned as a suspect last week and detained right away, KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said.
The antigraft agency plans to summon Imam for a fourth time soon.
"I have to meet the president to report [this case]. Let the president decide, because I am his aide," Imam said in Jakarta on Wednesday evening, as quoted by Kompas.com. He was speaking shortly after the KPK declared him a bribery suspect.
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